Following the conclusion of the competitive Michigan swing, the Epson Tour shifts its focus southward as the field travels to South Bend, Indiana, for the 15th annual Four Winds Invitational. Hosted at the scenic and demanding Blackthorn Golf Club, this tournament kicks off an important new stretch of the summer after a one-week competitive break. With a $225,000 purse on the line and the season officially crossing its midway point, the pressure to perform has never been higher for players looking to secure their graduate path to the LPGA Tour. The challenging championship layout promises to test every facet of the players' games. From seasoned competitors seeking a breakthrough to a talented crop of rookies riding wave after wave of summer momentum, the storylines in the Fighting Irish territory are rich. Here are the top players to watch as the battle for the graduation spots heats up at Blackthorn.

Leah John

Leah John returns to the Four Winds Invitational as the reigning champion and the player every field will be chasing this week, however at a new venue as the event is returning to Blackthorn Golf Club. The Canadian claimed her first professional victory at last year's Four Winds Invitational, opening with a scorching 9-under 63 that stands as the tournament's 18-hole scoring record. That breakthrough sent John on a rapid rise, and this past December she punched her ticket to the LPGA Tour by tying for 10th at Final Qualifying in Mobile, Ala. making her a dual member on both the LPGA and Epson Tour in 2026.

After struggling to find her best form on the LPGA Tour in the beginning of this year, John used a start at the Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass last month to shake off some rust between LPGA starts and now brings that game back to the event where her career-best round unfolded. With her name already etched into the Four Winds Invitational record book, John has the length, the local track record and the confidence of a champion looking to prove last year's win was no fluke.

Kim Kaufman

Kim Kaufman's return to Blackthorn Golf Club carries more weight than any leaderboard can capture. The last time the Epson Tour played this course, Kaufman closed out an 11-under performance to win the 2020 Four Winds Invitational, holding off a late charge from Robyn Choi for her first professional victory in six years. Since then, her career has been defined by a battle far bigger than golf.

In late 2024, shortly after narrowly missing out on an LPGA Tour card, Kaufman was diagnosed with breast cancer, a journey that included chemotherapy and radiation before she was declared cancer-free in the summer of 2025. Rather than retreat from the spotlight, Kaufman turned her diagnosis into a platform, partnering with Epson Tour to provide health screenings for fellow athletes and encouraging young women to prioritize preventive care. This fall, in a full-circle moment, she advanced through the second stage of LPGA Q-Series to reach the Final Stage, nearly a year to the day after cancer forced her to withdraw from that very event. Now a veteran with nothing left to prove and everything to gain, Kaufman returns to the fairways where she once broke through, chasing a different kind of redemption this time around.

Riley Smyth

Riley Smyth is another formidable talent making a highly anticipated return to the Epson Tour as she headlines the field at the Four Winds Invitational. The 2025 Epson Tour graduate generated massive buzz during her breakout season last year, capturing two impressive victories at the Central Florida Championship and the Great Lakes Championship to confidently secure her LPGA Tour card. While her rookie season on the big stage has seen some tough stretches, Smyth recently proved her immense potential with a stellar T12 finish at the Meijer LPGA Classic.

Now, one of the LPGA's longest hitters brings that renewed confidence back to familiar territory on the Epson Tour at Blackthorn Golf Club. Returning to the tour where she first found her championship pedigree presents the perfect opportunity to find her rhythm and spark a mid-season surge. If Smyth can lean on her powerful driving game and channel the winning momentum from her dominant 2025 campaign, she has all the tools necessary to overpower the field and hoist another trophy come Sunday afternoon.

Bella Simoes

Bella Simoes is set to capture the spotlight as a thrilling addition to the field, making her Epson Tour debut as a sponsor exemption at just 12 years old. The phenom has been generating significant buzz across the junior golf world, compiling an extraordinary resume that belies her young age. Simoes is a dominant four-time U.S. Kids Golf World Champion and made history at age nine as the youngest player ever to compete in a U.S. Women's Open qualifier. Her relentless work ethic and fearless competitive mindset have already earned her Player of the Year honors from both the Under Armour Tour and the South Florida PGA.

Now, she brings her exceptional natural talent and passion to Blackthorn Golf Club, eager to test her game against a field of seasoned professionals. While facing a challenging, championship-style layout, Simoes represents the next generation of the sport and will look to inspire young golfers everywhere as she takes this monumental next step toward her ultimate dream of one day playing on the LPGA Tour.

Race for the Card Points List Breakdown

The real thrill lies in the Race for the Card points standings. At season’s end, the top 15 finishers secure LPGA Tour status for the next season.

The top 10 earn Category 9 status.
Nos. 11-15 receive Category 16 status, plus entry into LPGA Q-Series Final Qualifying for a chance to upgrade to Category 15.

Here is the current Race for the Card leaderboard:

Lauren Olivares – 1313.650
Kaleiya Romero – 1311.067
Amari Avery – 1141.717
Liqi Zeng – 955.880
Mariel Galdiano – 876.860
Carla Bernat Escuder – 854.750
Annabelle Pancake-Webb – 843.083
Mirabel Ting – 772.896
Megan Schofill – 751.975
Lauryn Nguyen – 744.513
Cholcheva Wongras – 662.750
Jeongeun Lee6 – 597.500
Rachel Kuehn – 572.063
Jenny Coleman – 552.166
Maddie McCrary-Civello – 542.583

Players to Watch at the 2026 Four Winds Invitational

Related Articles